(Credit: ©2026 Monika Rittershaus) Despite the numerous positive accounts of Barrie Kosky’s “Siegfried” that gave me hope for a rich and nuanced performance, I found the singing, acting and stage design to be flat, unconvincing and shallow. As a devoted Wagnerite, I do not feel that most of the performers truly understood the vast musical work that they were performing. {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced its 2026-27 season. Premiere Zemlinsky’s “Eine Florentinische Tragödie” and Bartok’s “Bluebeard’s Castle” will be performed in a new production with Dmitry Golovnin, Christopher Maltman, Florian Boesch, and Asmik Grigorian. Alain Altinoglu conducts the new production by Vasily Barkhatov. Performance Dates: Oct. 3-12, 2026 Barrie Kosky directs a new production of Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” with {…}
The Osterfestspiele Salzburg has announced its 2027 season. Since the first-ever Easter Festival opened with Richard Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen,” the company will now begin a new cycle to celebrate its 60th anniversary. “Die Walkure” will star Jamez McCorkle, Christopher Maltman, Brindley Sherratt, Christina Nilsson, Lise Davidsen and Catrina Morison. Kirill Petrenko conducts the new production by Kirill Serebrennikov. {…}
The Birgit Nilsson Festival has announced its 2026 season. Here is the a look at the vocal performances. Opera singer and actor Richard Hamrin, together with pianist Eric Skarby, takes the audience on a personal journey through the life and music of this magnificent and controversial prima donna. Performance Date: August 3, 2026 Two of Sweden’s most beloved opera stars {…}
The Opéra de Paris has announced a cast change for its production of “Die Walküre.” The company said that Iain Paterson, who is ill, has cancelled the dress rehearsal, preview, and premiere of “Die Walküre.” As a result, the role of Wotan will be performed by Christopher Maltman on 8 and 11 November 2025.” Maltman is a well-known singer who has {…}
The Wiener Staatsoper has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the operas and recitals for the new season. Premieres Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride” will get a new production by Dirk Schmeding. The cast will be headed by Franz Xaver Schlecht, Margaret Plummer, Slávka Zámečníková, Ivo Stanchev, Monika Bohinec, Pavol Breslik, Michael Laurenz, Peter Kellner, Matthäus Schmidlechner, Ilia Staple, and Alex Ilvakhin. Tomáš Hanus conducts. A second cast will {…}
The Royal Opera House has announced its cinema season for the 2025-26 season. Here are the opera offerings: The cinema season opens with Puccini’s “Tosca” starring Anna Netrebko, Freddie de Tommaso, and Gerald Finley. Jakub Hrůša conducts the new production by Oliver Mears. Cinema Date: Oct. 1 & 5, 2025 Antonello Manacorda conducts Verdi’s “La Traviata” and will star Ermonela {…}
(Photo credits: Crowley, Cadisch, & Simpson) The Oxford International Song Festival has announced its 2024 season lineup. Baritone Roderick Williams and pianist Natalie Burch open the Festival with Schubert’s “Schwanengesang.” Performance Date: October 11, 2024 Soprano Carolyn Sampson and pianist Joseph Middleton present a works by Robert and Clara Schumann. Performance Date: October 12, 2024 Dame Sarah Connolly and Joseph Middleton {…}
The Staatsoper Unter den Linden has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Luca Salsi and Anna Netrebko team up for Verdi’s “Nabucco.” Ivan Magrì, Marina Prudenskaya, and René Pape join them. Anastasia Bartoli also performs. Bertrand de Billy conducts the new production by Emma Dante. Performance Dates: Oct. 2-26, 2024 Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” receives a new production featuring multiple casts. {…}
The Royal Opera House has announced its 2024-25 season. Here is a look at the season. Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” will open the season with a cast that includes Luca Micheletti, Ying Fang, Huw Montague Rendall, Jacquelyn Stucker, and Ginger Costa-Jackson. Performance Dates: Sept. 2-15, 2024 Verdi’s “La Traviata” will feature two casts. The first cast will be headlined {…}
The BBC Proms has announced its 2024 season. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Elim Chan conducts the First Night at Proms with soloists Sophie Bevan and Isata Kanneh‐Mason. The program includes Handel, Ben Nobuto, Beethoven Bruckner, and Clara Schumann. Performance Date: July 19, 2024 British choral groups The King’s Singers and VOCES8 present a Prom that showcases {…}